My First Ibiza Experience Was a Dream Come True

Between Pacha, Ushuaïa, and [UNVRS], visiting Ibiza’s top clubs and sights for the first time was nothing short of a magical adventure.

Ibiza has been a top destination for me to visit for a while now. A Balearic island in the Mediterranean Sea and unofficially dubbed “the white isle,” this hot spot for dance music nightlife, sandy beaches, and carefree attitudes has beckoned to many around the world for decades. This year, I decided to answer the call, as the stars aligned for my first Ibiza trip.

I landed in Ibiza on July 6 and absorbed the views of Ushuaïa and glistening blue waves from my window seat on the plane. After grabbing a taxi to our hotel in Playa d’en Bossa and getting ready for the evening, my friends and I headed out to Pacha to see Solomun. Upon entering, we were greeted with countless glowing palm trees among a dimly lit courtyard as partygoers enjoyed drinks and cigarettes in each other’s company.

Pacha was unlike any other club I’ve experienced.

Inside, the club has an industrial feel, with dated televisions and wires strung throughout the ceiling. Yet, there’s a modern element, with glistening lasers and lights illuminating the space.

Outside, white walls and Spanish architecture complement the venue, an ode to Ibiza. I enjoyed spending a lot of time on the rooftop terrace, watching the people and cars down below into the early morning hours.

Throughout the rest of Pacha, there was much to explore, with various art installations, murals, and photo ops around every corner. My friends and I even stopped for a bit to take pictures in the bathroom, among red lights and witty phrases depicted in front of each stall, like “Ready to devour you” and “I’m losing my f***ing mind.”

Solomun came on at 2:30am, and the dancefloor was absolutely packed.

My friends and I maneuvered through different spots in the crowd before landing in the back on some stairs for an optimal view.

He played a mix of house, techno, and melodic tracks, and Pacha honestly felt like the perfect venue in Ibiza to catch him at. He kept the crowd’s energy at maximum capacity throughout the entire set, even through his back-to-back set with Chloé Caillet right after. Through the music and unique atmosphere on the dancefloor, I let myself get lost in the vibes, thoroughly appreciating my first club experience in Ibiza. When I left around 6am, attendees were still dancing their hearts out, but I opted to get some rest ahead of another jam-packed day.

My second day on the white isle kicked off with a three-hour boat party around the island, filled with deep house, paella, and a dip in the sea. Feeling rejuvenated, my friends and I got ready to head to Ushuaïa to see David Guetta. It was only a 12-minute walk to the venue from our hotel, and I quickly realized that Playa d’en Bossa is one of the most central locations to stay to visit some of the island’s top clubs.

Photo Credit: Ushuaïa Ibiza

After entering the world-renowned Ushuaïa, a place I’ve heard about in songs and seen on social media for many years, I was impressed with the sheer size of the venue.

The stage felt like a festival main stage, complete with lights, lasers, CO2 cannons, dancers, aerialist performers, and more. The venue was packed to the brim with attendees, with many dancing from their hotel balconies lining the venue as well. While there was no line to get in, I recommend arriving no later than 8pm to beat the crowds.

A sight that feels exclusive to Ushuaïa is the consistent presence of planes flying overhead to the nearby airport, with the crowd never failing to erupt in cheers each time. The ambience is exactly what I expected from my debut Ushuaïa experience.

After grabbing a drink at one of the many bars, I made my way through the dense crowd of people and eventually found a spot front and left of the stage. David Guetta began with his iconic future rave remix of his classic track “Titanium” featuring Sia, setting the bar high for the rest of the evening. Through a plethora of high-octane moments and Guetta thanking the crowd, stating that Ibiza is unlike any other place in the world, it felt extremely special to be there.

As Ushuaïa events end at 11pm, the night was still young as we boarded the Discobus for [UNVRS] to see Eric Prydz’ Holosphere 2.0.

This is Ibiza’s newest, state-of-the-art nightclub, perched atop a hill overlooking the Ibiza greenery and city lights below. It was about a 15-minute drive from Ushuaïa, and anticipation built as we approached.

Upon walking up a short hill to the club, I immediately noticed how quiet the area was. The nearby homes were unbothered by noise, as the club is incredibly soundproofed. [UNVRS] stands tall with its whitewashed walls and iconic open-air dome, and the inside transports you, quite literally, to another universe.

With traditional Ibiza architecture on the outside as an ode to the past, the inside draws you to the future, with endless, out-of-this-world spaces to explore. The club has been meticulously crafted through each detail, and it’s evident from the moment you step through the doors.

Photo Credit: [UNVRS] Ibiza

The main room of [UNVRS] is a behemoth, with its expansive ceilings, grand staircase, and tiered levels engulfing you for an intimate experience.

The L-Acoustics sound system was built just for this club, and there was no bad location in the venue to take in the music. Aside from the main room, The Wild Comet stage in the bathroom was the ultimate party, with DJs playing fiery nonstop beats. Whenever I wanted to take a break from the main room, I always gravitated toward this exceptional side room. A third stage, The Bunker, was also located beneath the club, with various genres being played.

If you fancied a bite to eat, the Vicio Burger Club was the ideal lounge to recharge between sets. My group tried the avocado cheeseburger, and it really was the best food I’ve had at any club I’ve been to. Whether taking a breather in here or on the many lush, outdoor terraces, [UNVRS] has spaces to suit all your needs at the moment.

After touring the club and exploring every niche, my friend and I landed right in the middle of the dancefloor for a sublime view of Prydz’s Holosphere. If you’re a fan of his Holo shows, you must check out Holosphere, too. His massive, custom-made transparent LED panel sphere displayed brand-new visuals to entrance the crowd. My favorite one had to be when it transformed into an eyeball, glancing rapidly over the crowd as a slew of lasers glared over the room.

I headed to The Cloud, the third-level VIP balcony, for the end of the set and to get a bird’s eye view of the crowd. As Prydz concluded with his beloved ethereal single “Opus” for a grand finale, I knew that [UNVRS] was the right venue to host Holosphere. Leaving the club around 5am with memories to last a lifetime, I was more than satisfied with my first visit to the superclub.

Photo Credit: @conormcdphoto

Calvin Harris’ set was everything I expected it to be and so much more.

My last full day in Ibiza began with a visit to the brand-new Tomorrowland store, where my friends and I snagged some merchandise ahead of our visit to the first weekend of the festival. Once the evening rolled around, it was time to head back to Ushuaïa to catch the biggest party on the island, Calvin Harris.

From classics like “This Is What You Came For” with Rihanna, “I’m Not Alone,” and “Summer” to newer music like “Blessings” with Clementine Douglas and “Miracle” with Ellie Goulding, he delivered a top-tier performance on par with Ibiza nightlife. The electricity could be felt throughout the sea of partygoers as everyone sang along to his cherished releases.

Our final event of the trip was a second visit to [UNVRS] to catch the debut of Anyma’s residency, where he played to a crowd filled to the brim inside the venue.

My friends and I were lucky to secure a spot in the middle of the dancefloor again, providing the best views of his illustrious visuals. Illuminated wires and lights draped across the ceiling, reminiscent of a power grid, with Anyma plugging us into his melodies. From brand-new tracks and visuals to fan favorites, the night was eclectic as he kicked off his residency, which runs through August 26.

The cherry on top of the evening was seeing the sunrise shine through the club as [UNVRS] opened their famed windows during his back-to-back set with Adriatique.

As I boarded the plane to leave Ibiza mere hours after leaving [UNVRS], I reminisced on the extraordinary time I had.

No matter which club I was at or which set I was listening to, the magic of the island was in the air, a palpable feeling exclusive to Ibiza. Dance music lovers from all over the world flock to this destination for many reasons, but the love of the scene unites us all. I can only imagine how enchanting my next time on the white isle will be, but until then, I’ll be looking back on my first Ibiza experience with nothing but joy.

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